Jesse Willems
Antwerp, Belgium, 1984
About
Lives and works in Antwerp, Belgium.
Jesse Willems is a Belgian contemporary artist. He uses his street photography as a base for complex collages, often provoking contemplation and silence. By wrapping photographic prints in the most wonderful paper (often scored from forgotten archives and old stationery shops), he draws our attention to what is often overlooked and shows us that beauty can be hidden in any corner at any moment, but can only be enjoyed if one takes the time to observe carefully. By eliminating any superfluous elements, and consciously leaving out all too recognizable items such as letters and symbols, Jesse frees the composition from a limited reading. Willems aims to control his compositions, however always leaving room to consciously and simultaneously explore the intersection between reason and coincidence. In recent years, he has evolved towards a restrained style which incorporates softer colors, deriving abstraction from reality.
Willems’ work has been on display at several solo – and group exhibitions. His work is in the collections of the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Verbeke foundation, Museum Liaunig, Bank Delen, Bachelot Collection. Over the years he has participated in recognized art fairs such as Art Paris or Art Brussels.
CV
SOLO & DUO EXHIBITIONS
Achilles, Alzueta Gallery, Barcelona, Spain (2025)
Albatros, Schönfeld gallery, Antwerp, Belgium (2025)
Atlas, Galerie Clémentine de la Féronnière, Paris, France (2024)
Lido, Zeit Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium (2022)
Sketch for a summer, Schönfeld Projects, Antwerp, Belgium (2022)
Kairos, Schönfeld Gallery, Brussels, Belgium (2022)
Eden, Artelli Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium (2019)
Fallen Idols, Native, Brussels, Belgium (2018)
Chresis ton Phantasion, BAD, Ghent, Belgium (2018)
Barak Friture, Belgian Embassy, Kinshasa, Congo (2017)
The future – and other jet age inventions, Samuel Maenhoudt Gallery, Knokke, Belgium (2017)
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Selfies Part I, Schönfeld Gallery, Brussels, Belgium (2024)
Silence. Pregnant with Promise, Schönfeld Gallery, Brussels, Belgium (2023)
Raumdeutung, ZS art galerie, Vienna, Austria (2023)
7×70, That was then, this is now, Zeit Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium (2021)
Order:Disorder, ZS art galerie, Vienna, Austria (2021)
Collage, Museum Dr Guislain, Ghent, Belgium (2020)
Renaissance II, Schönfeld Projects, Antwerp, Belgium (2020)
Renaissance I, Schönfeld Gallery, Brussels, Belgium (2020)
Paper Stories, Schönfeld Gallery, Brussels, Belgium (2020)
Antwerpen à la carte, MAS Museum, Antwerp, Belgium (2019)
BCC#1, Verbeke Foundation, Stekene, Belgium (2019)
919, Artelli Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium (2019)
ART FAIRS
ART PARIS, Galerie Clémentine de la Féronnière, Paris, France (2025)
ART ANTWERP, Schönfeld Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium (2024)
LUXEMBOURG ART WEEK, Schönfeld Gallery, Luxembourg, Luxembourg (2024)
ANTWERP ART WEEKEND, Schönfeld Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium (2024)
ART PARIS, Galerie Clémentine de la Féronnière, Paris, France (2024)
ART ON PAPER, Schönfeld Gallery, Brussels, Belgium (2024)
ART ANTWERP, Schönfeld Gallery, Antwerp, Belgium (2023)
LUXEMBOURG ART WEEK, Schönfeld Gallery, Luxembourg, Luxembourg (2023)
ART ON PAPER, Schönfeld Gallery, Brussels, Belgium (2023)
LUXEMBOURG ART WEEK, Schönfeld Gallery, Luxembourg, Luxembourg (2022)
ART ON PAPER, Schönfeld Gallery, Brussels, Belgium (2022)
LUXEMBOURG ART WEEK, Schönfeld Gallery, Luxembourg, Luxembourg (2021)
ART BRUSSELS, Schönfeld Gallery, Brussels, Belgium (2021)
LUXEMBOURG ART WEEK, Schönfeld Gallery, Online (2020)
LUXEMBOURG ART WEEK, Schönfeld Gallery, Luxembourg, Luxembourg (2019)
PAPER POSITIONS, Schönfeld Gallery, Munich, Germany (2019)
